Merrill Team Jumps to Dynasty-Backed RIA

A Merrill Lynch team in Portland, Ore., is crossing the street to work with True Private Wealth Advisors, an independent advisory firm.

The Opsahl Group, led by senior advisor Joseph Opsahl and advisor Chris Hatfield, is leaving Merrill Lynchs Private Client Group to work with True, a key Dynasty Financial Partners firm in the Pacific Northwest.

The group is bringing more than $140 million in assets under management, says True founding partner and senior wealth advisor Steve Altman, raising the firms AUM to nearly $500 million under management.

Adding the Opsahl Group demonstrates the firms focus on growth in the Pacific Northwest Altman says. Our hope is that we can build a multibillion dollar advisory firm within the next five years."

Opsahl, a certified public accountant, was at Merrill for the past four years and led a successful practice at Smith Barney for 21 years.

I did extensive due diligence in the independent space and reviewed the business models available, he says. When I met the team at True, it was an immediate fit. True has developed the right model for both serving clients and supporting advisors.